CHAP. IX. The War with the Moors now effectually renewed; The Description of the City Granada; King Ferdinand lays Siege to it, and builds a Town for his Army to Quarter in during the Siege, to shew his Resolution not to depart without being Master of that City.
THE King and Queen spent the Winter at Sevil, and in the Spring renewed the War. The Queen stayed behind at Alcala Reall with her Children, to furnish all things necessary, * 1.1 and soon after to follow and take part of the Honour and Danger of that Enterprize. All the Nobility came in Person, and the Cities sent Troops upon their own cost, with which and the other Forces King Ferdinand in three days appeared in sight of Granada, upon Saturday the 23d of April, 1491. He encamped at Guetar, a Village a League and a half from Granada: Thence he sent the Marquess de Villena with 3000 Horse to scour the neighbouring Moun∣tains, * 1.2 promising to follow him with the whole Army to relieve him, in case the Mountain-Moors, who are bold and daring, should fall upon him, or those of the City offer to cut off his Retreat. Accordingly he advanced to Padul, and repulsed the Moors of the City, who thought to fall upon the Marquess's Rear. By this means the Marquess was left at liberty to execute his Orders, burnt 9 Villages of the Infidels, and returned to the King loaded with Plunder. This beginning was looked upon as a good Omen of future success. They advan∣ced together to ravage the remoter Parts of the Mountain, which they did successfully, plunder∣ing and burning 15 other Villages. Besides, they defeated a Body of Moorish Horse and Foot, who had secured the Passes against our Army. The Booty was very considerable, that Country being very rich, because untouched till that time, being naturally strong and well guarded, as was requisite, the City being supplied there with Provisions. All this being per∣formed without any loss or bloodshed, the Army returned to its first Quarters; there they fortified themselves for the present. They mustered 10000 Horse and 40000 Foot, the very Flower of the Spanish Soldiery, being all Men of tried Valour, and expert Soldiers. In the City was also a great number of Horse and Foot, and all of them good Soldiers, being the Remains of all the late Wars. The multitude of Citizens was not of any moment, they being a sort of People always lavish of their Tongues, but Cowards when they came to Action. The City of Granada, by reason of its Situation, Largness, Forts, Walls, and Bul∣warks, * 1.3 seemed impregnable. On the West-side of it is a large Plain, about 15 Leagues in compass, pleasant and fruitful as well of its own Nature, as by reason of the Blood that had been there shed for many Years, which made it fat: Besides, that 36 Springs running down from the Mountains do render it more beautiful and rich than can easily be imagined. On the East of it is the Mountain Elvira, where formerly stood the City Iliberis, as appears by the Name Elvira. The snowy Mountain called Sierra Nevada lies on the South-side of it, and runs down as far as the Mediterranean Sea: The sides of it are not steep or craggy, and are there∣fore cultivated and well peopled. The City it self is seated partly upon the Plain, and partly upon two Hills; betwixt them runs the River Darro, which as soon as out of the City, mixes with, and loses its Name in the River Xenil, that runs quite a cross the Plain in length. The Walls are very strong, there being upon them 1030 Towers at distances, very beautiful for their Number and good Structure. Formerly it had 7 Gates, now 12. It cannot well be en∣closed all round, because of its great extent, and the unevenness of the Ground. Towards the Plain where the access is easiest, it is fortified with Towers and Bulwarks: In that part stands the Cathedral, then a Moorish Mosque nothing curious, now beautiful. It is held in great Veneration by all the neighbouring People, and famous not so much for its Riches as the Number and Piety of Clergy belonging to it. Near this Church is the great Market∣place called Bavarambla, 200 Foot in breadth, and three times as long. The Buildings about it stand in a streight Line; the Shops and Streets about it beautiful. Of two Castles that belong to the City, the chiefest lies betwixt the East and West, encompassed with a Wall of its own, and standing above the other Buildings. It is called Alhambra, that is Red, of the colour of the Earth about it, and is so big it looks like a City. In it is the Royal Palace and Monastery of S Francis, the burial place of the Marquess de Yn̄igo de Mendoça, the first Go∣vernour of it. King Mahomet Mir laid the Foundation of this Castle; other Kings conti∣nued the Work, and it was finished by King Joseph Bulhagix, as appears by the Arabick In∣scription over the Gate on a Marble Stone, signifying the Work was finished by that King, in the Year of the Moorish Account 747, which according to us is 1346. This same King built the Castle of Albaizin, opposite to this Castle. The expence of this Work was so great, that because 'twas thought his Revenue could not bear it, the People gave out he had found the Philosopher's Stone. Betwixt these two Castles, that is, Alhambra and Albaizin, lies the City. The Suburb called Churra, and the Street Dę los Gomeles, is on the side of Alhambra. On the